Whirling toy



INVENTOR Edward. Sail BY March 12, 1935. E'. s. SAVAGE WHIRLING TOY Original Filed Feb. 5, 1934 Reissued Mar. 12, 1 93 5 PATENT OFFICE Edward S. Savage, Rochester, N. Y., assignor to Louis Marx & Company, a corporation of New York 1 Original No. 1,963,001, dated June 12, 1934,

Serial No. 709,814, February 5, 1934. Application for reissue December 12, 1934, Serial No.

16 Claims. (01. 46-14) My present invention relates to mechanical toys and more particularly to whirling tcys,'interest in and enjoyment of which is largely due to 'the production of changing color effects, and it has for its object to provide an improved and attractive toy of this general character that will be certain and convenient as to operation but which maybe produced at a low cost. The invention contemplates a rotary toy suspended from a string or cord by "the manipulation of which it is operated and caused to climb and descend thereon, alternately, and the improvements are directed-in part toward the provision of means whereby a'color controlling element is mounted and caused to change the apparent color or the color effect upon each reversal of movement and toward the provision of an impeller whereby the downward progress of thewhirling body may be accelerated. To these and other ends, the invention resides in certain improvements and combinations of parts, all as will be hereinafter more fully described, the novel features being pointed out inthe claims at the end of this specification.

a In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a vertical central section with the operating cord broken away of a toy constructed in accordance with and illustrating one embodi ment of my invention;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation, partly broken away to reveal the interior element;

Fig. 3 is a view corresponding to Fig. 1 of a modification of the invention, the same being shown, however, partly in elevation and one form of impeller means being shown in side elevation in connection with the cord, and

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the device of Fig. 3 on a reduced scale showing a different form of impeller. 1

Similar reference numerals throughout the several views indicate the same parts.

Referring first to the construction shown in Figs. 1 and 2, I provide an outer or body element, indicated generally at 1, which has the form of a flattened sphere. It consists of a sheet metal shell, in the present instance, composed of two semi-spheroidal parts connected by a central shaft 2 to the ends of which they are riveted. A central winding drum'3, through which the shaft 2 passes with a clearance,. is

composed of two spaced metal disks, as shown,.

the edges of which meet the edges of the shell elements 1 and are secured thereto in'a seam at 4. The shell pieces fare provided with a plurality of equally spaced openingsb.

In each compartment, as it were, that result from this construction, is an element 6 turning freely on the shaft 2; The resulting rotation of the body relative to the element is taken advantage of to change the appearance of the body, this change being visible through the windows 5. In the present case the elements 6 are substantially semi-spheroidal or convex color elements. Each element has the general conformation of the adjacent shell piece 1 and is held in slightly spaced relationship thereto by an annular boss '7 that frictionally engages the shell piece near the bearing. Hub pieces 8 on the shaft press against theinsides of the color elements 6 in the region of these friction'bosses under the influence of an intermediatev spring 9 coiled about the shaft and extending through the drum 3. An operating cord 10 has its end secured to the latter and is adapted to wind thereon in a single spiral, as indicated in Fig. 1, the drum itself being very narrow. The outer faces ofthe color elements 6 are divided into segmental areas 11 corresponding to the openings 5 in the shell and these areas are contrastingly colored, preferably with the primary' colors, as indicated. The operation of the device is as follows: V

The cord 10 is wound upon the drum, as in Fig. 1, and the upper end held in the hand, while the toy' body is allowed to drop. Its unwinding from the-cord imparts rotationto it in one direction and when it abruptly reaches the end of-the cord length, this rotation persists and causes it to rewind itself and climb upon the cord assisted'by the skillful manipulation of the upper end of the cord by the operator in a well known manner. This is repeated again and again. Each time the speed of rotation of the shell or body member is abruptly retarded, as it is when it reaches the limit of the string at the bottom or at the top of its travel, there occurs an overrunning of the color element 6 due to its inertia. As the toy whirls in a given transit of the cord,lit appears, generally, of a color suchas that on the elements 6 that are in register with the openings 5. Thus, in Fig. 2, the registration is partly blue and partly yellow so persistency of vision will give a greeneffect. When the beforementioned overrunning of the color elements'occurs, there is a resetting of the color elements, that is, they will change their positions relatively of the openings 5 and another color or combination of colors will register. The function of the friction controlling assembly on the shaft, namely, the spring 9,.hubs 8 and friction bosses '7, is to permit the overrunning but to thereafter maintain the color disks at a parts, as will be understood byI one skilled in the art. r

In the form of the invention shown in Fig; 3, where corresponding reference numerals are used for the major parts,- insteadof;t he hubs 8,

I punch in the centers of'the color elements 6 at 8a to bring their bearings on the shaft 2' nearer their centers of gravity. 'I'hi s stabilizes them in another way to avoid tilting and contact with the outer shell. The friction bosses are. provided. at- 'la substantially as before. The inner plates 3a do not form the drum but form a space for the occupancy of aseparate drum 3b. Two springs 9a are employed instead of one, being interposed between plates 3a and the portions8a. of the disks; I i

In connectionwith this construction, I have illustrated an impelling means for accelerating the downward travel of the toy body. Embracing the drum 3b is a yo l-re l2 free on the shaft 2 and carrying a guide 13 for the cord 10 that projects slightly free of the toy body Slidabl on the cord is a tubular element 14 which may be'drawn down abruptly against the guide 13 to give an impulse to the toy. body, Mechanical means is here shown for operating the "slide whichconsists of a lazy tongs 15, to the pivot 16 of which the upper end of'the. cord is; attached. A spring 17 onthis pivot contracts the tongs as in the figure but when the finger pieces 18 are pinched together they are extendedand the impulse communicated to the toy body,,as stated. In Fig. 4, this impeller has the simpler form of a tube 14a free on the cord and having an enlarged. portion to be grasped by one of the operator's hands while the end ofIthe cord is held with the other. I Y I An impeller of ,one kind or another is; par: ticularly useful when the toy: is being used by a small child, for instance, as it furnishes rapid rotation more quickly than would the normal gravitationthrough which the unwinding occurs. Also, the guide 13 is more than a mere abutment for the impeller. It holds the ,cord'from scrap ing contactwithparts other than thedrum itself and gives it a certainty ofdirection that prevents the globular form of- Fig. 3, particularly; from having a tendency to weave. I claim as my invention:

' '1. Ina gravity operated reversing-whirling toy of the bandelore type, the combination with a rotatable body element havingawindingcenter and a supporting cord attached thereto and adapted to be woundin the latter whereby the body element will unwind downwardly on the cord by gravitation andclimb thereon by' rewinding through its'own rotational momentum, of a color element having variously coloredexposed surfaces mounted to turn relatively to the body element, suchrelative turning movement being caused by differences in freedom of motion of theelements and being adaptedto produce a changing chromatic effect. a i

,3. Ina whirlingtoyof the:bandelore.type, the

The strength of compres-,- sion of the spring 9 is regulated to the area of the frictional contact at 7 and the weight of the combination with a rotatable body element embodying a shell having shutter openings therein and a winding'center and a cord adapted to be wound in the latter whereby the shell will unwind on the cord by gravitation and climb thereon rewindingihro-ughite own momentum, of an elementwithin the shellviewable through the openings and adapted to rotate relatively thereto because of differential inertias of the elements, the inner element being contrastingly colored to produce a chromatic effect.

3.' A whirling toy, in accordance with claim 1 eharacterized further by the fact that there is provided a color-element on each side'of the winding center. II

4. A whirling toy in accordance with claim. 1 characterizedfurther by the fact that the color element'fricti'onally contacts the body element and a means is provided for controlling such contact.

5. A whirling toy in accordance with claim 1 characterized furtherby the fact that the color element frictionally contacts the element and spring means is. provided for-inducing such friction.-- 1

' 6. A whirling .toy in accordance vwithclaim 1 characterized further by the fact that the color element frictionallytcontacts the body element on a limited area and spring. means is provided for inducing such friction- I I r 7. A whirling toy inaccordance-withiclaim'l further characterized. by the-fact-that it has a color element oneach sideofithe winding center that frictionally contacts the body element and means is provided for-controlling such contact and there is provided a shaft carried bythe body upon. which the. color "elementsturn, said elements being substantially semiesphericalandbeing provided with reentrantbearing portions to bring. their planes :ofsupport nearer to their centers of gravity.I I II a I 8. A whirling toy-.inaccordancewithclaim l. further characterized by the fact that it .has a color element on each side of the winding center that frictionally contacts the bodyelement and -means is provided ion-controlling such contact comprising. axial hubs rotatable with the, color l-elements and a. spring -for. thrusting them apart against the respective color elements to make the frictional contact with the body element. V V

9.A whirlingtoyinaccordance with claim 1 further characterized-by .the fact that it'has a color, element on each side of the-winding center that frictionally contacts the body element and means is providedfor controllingisuch contact comprising a spring-for thrusting the color elements against the body elements tomake the frictional contact and a central connecting shaft upon which the parts are concentrically mounted.

10. In a gravity operated reversing whirling toy, the combinationwith a body=element-hav ing a ,central shaft fixed: thereto, of a drum thereon constituting a winding center; a supporting cord. attachedtoqthe winding center and adapted to bewoundin the latter whereby the body element will. unwind downwardly on the cord; by gravitationand climb thereon by rewinding through its own' 'rotationa-l momentum, a device-free on the shaft within the-body element and actingras a guide-for the cord; and asliding impeller on theqeord adapted to strike the; guide. I v 11. Ina gravitygoperatedvreversing whirling toy, the combination with'a bodyelementhaving a central shaft fixed thereto, of a drum thereon constituting a winding center, a supporting cord attached to the winding center and adapted to be wound in the latter whereby the body element will unwind downwardly on the cord by gravitation and climb thereon by rewinding through its own rotational momentum, a device free on the shaft within the body element and acting as a guide for the cord, a lazy tongs to which the cord is attached, and an impeller on the lazy tongs slidable on the cord and adapted to strike the guide.

12. In a gravity operated reversing whirling toy of the bandelore type, the combination with a rotatable body element having a winding center and a supporting cord attached thereto and adapted to be wound in the latter whereby the body element will unwind downwardly on the cord by gravitation and climb thereon by rewinding through its own rotational momentum, of a member mounted within the body element in such a manner as to turn relatively to the body element, such relative turning movement being caused by a freedom of motion of said member relative to the body element.

13. In a gravity operated reversing whirling toy of the bandelore type, the combination with a rotatable body element having hollow halves with a winding center and a supporting cord attached thereto and adapted to be wound in the latter whereby the body, element will unwind downwardly on the cord by gravitation and climb thereon by rewinding through its own rotational momentum, of a member mounted within each half of the body element on theaxis of rotation of the body element in such a manner as to turn relatively to the body element, such relative turning movement being caused by a freedom of motion 01 said member relative to the body element.

1.4. In a gravity operated reversing whirling a rotatable body element having windowed hollow halves with a winding center and a supporting cord attached thereto and adapted to be wound in the latter whereby the body element will unwind downwardly on the cord by gravitation and climb thereon by rewinding through its own rotational momentum, of a member mounted within each half of the body element on the axis of rotation of the body element in such a manner as to turn relatively to the body element, such relative turning movement being caused by a freedom of motion of said member relative to the body element, and causing a. change in appearance viewable through the windows in the body element.

15. In a whirling toy of the bandelore type, the combination with a rotatable body element embodying a shell having windows therein and a winding center and a cord adapted to be wound in the latter whereby the shell will unwind on the cord by gravitation and climb thereon by rewinding through its own rotational momentum, of a member Within the shell viewable through the windows and free to rotate relatively thereto, a resultant rotation being produced because of differential inertias of the shell and member.

16. In a whirling toy of the bandelore type, the combination with a rotatable body element having halves each embodying a shell with windows therein and a winding center and a cord adapted to be wound in the latter whereby the shell will unwind on the cord by gravitation and climb thereon by rewinding through its own rotational momentum, of a member mounted within each half of the shell on the axis of rotation of the body element and viewable through the windows and free to rotate relatively to the body element, a resultant rotation being produced because of diiferential inertias of the shell and member, and serving to cause a change in appearance of the toy.

EDWARD S. SAVAGE. 

